OLDER NEWS & UPDATES...

...June 11, 2012... This is the last full week of school! Prom and Grad have come and gone and students are beginning to taste summer. But, before we can get on with that there are a few final things that need to be completed. Here's an update: ENG 3C students are completing their Independent Study Unit, which involves creating a report on a business idea they think would be viable for the Greenstone area. This finaly assignment involves a report, a press release and a mock "grand opening" plan, including advertisements. There are some good ideas and I'm looking forward to seeing final products. This assignment is due on the last day of class, which is next Wednesday, June 20. ENG 2D students are working on a culminating unit activity, which is creating poetry collections. Some of the students took some more time than their peers to get the "creative juices" flowing but as always, I'm impressed with some of the work that has been created. Hopefully I will get permission to share it! This project is due this week, on Wednesday, June 13. To close the class, students will do some brief, (very brief) work with Lord of the Flies and then...the final exam! OLC 4O students are working on the Summative Assessment for the literacy course. Since there is no exam, students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the reading and writing expectations of the course by completing activities that are essentially the same as those on the literacy test, such as news reports and summaries. This will be wrapped up this week and then students will have an opportunity to catch up on outstanding assignments prior to the end of the course next week. Exams are right around the corner. The Grade 11 - ENG3C exam is on Thursday, June 21 and the Grade 10 - ENG2D exam is on Monday, June 25. All exams are from 10am-1pm. If you have questions about the progress of a student, please do not hesitate to send me an email or call me through the school at (807) 854-0130. Thanks, and have a terrific week!

...May 17, 2012... I can't believe how quickly time flies. It's almost been a whole month since the last update. Students have completed quite a bit of work since that update and are on the final stretch towards the summer break. A Progress Report will be handed out to students this week. Here's what's been going on in class: ENG 3C students spent time completing culminating projects and a unit test for In the Heat of the Night. Now, students are spending time improving academic essay-writing skills and business writing skills before moving on to the final culminating course assignment. ENG 2D students should be commended for submitting their To Kill a Mockingbird essays in on time. Students are now at the halfway point of "Romeo & Juliet" and most students are reading Shakespeare fluently in class, as well as participating in discussions on the play. This unit will wrap up in about two weeks before the class quickly looks at Lord of the Flies. OLC 4O students are almost done with the novel Crabbe. The class has responded favourably to the story and students have been practicing news report writing, summaries, and paragraph responses all directed towards ideas from the novel. Soon, students will begin their final assessment. If you have questions about the progress of a student, please do not hesitate to send me an email or call me through the school at (807) 854-0130. Thanks, and have a terrific week!

...April 23, 2012... We are offiically past midterms and classes are doing well. I apologize for the lack of updates but it's been busy, busy, busy! Here's what's been going on in class: ENG 3C students have finished reading the novel In the Heat of the Night and have also watched the film adaptation. This week, students will be assigned a culminating activity involving the choice of a selection of assignments. The week will end with a unit test. ENG 2D students completed To Kill a Mockingbird. Students also compared and contrasted the 1960 film adaptation. This week, students will use their compare/contrast notes to begin the rough work for a literary essay. Students will learn about effectively using quotes, organization of ideas, and the implementation of all of this into an essay. The next unit will be Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet! OLC 4O students have begun reading the short adventure novel Crabbe, about a young man surviving in the woods after running from home. A series of assignments is associated with this novel that will continue to develop students' reading and writing skills. If you have questions about the progress of a student, please do not hesitate to send me an email or call me through the school at (807) 854-0130. Thanks, and have a terrific week!

...March 19, 2012... Spring has sprung! Here's hoping everyone had a fun and refreshing March Break. It's time to get back into the swing of things as there are only....three months left until Summer - and so much to do in such little time! ENG 3C Students will begin studying the novel In the Heat of the Night by John Ball. The novel explores racial tensions and is a classic mystery novel. Students will work on reading and writing skills throughout this unit. ENG 2D students will be writing the Grade 10 Literacy Test next week so that will occupy the focus between now and then to some degree. Students will also begin their study of the classic To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. OLC 4O Students will begin working on essay writing this week as well as continue developing literacy skills through various reading and writing activities. If you have questions about the progress of a student, please do not hesitate to send me an email or call me through the school at (807) 854-0130. Thanks, and have a terrific week!

...February 27, 2012... There are only two weeks left until March Break and, for Grade 10 students, only one month until the Grade 10 Literacy Test! ENG 3C Students are doing work focusing on Short Stories, ahead of the novel study unit. This unit involves understanding the written form and students have also been assigned to write their own "twist ending" short story. ENG 2D students continue to focus on Grade 10 Literacy Test (OSSLT) skills, and are also learning about aspects of literary essays. Students will soon be writing literary and persuasive essays to hone their skills. OLC 4O Students are currently focusing on a news report assignment. This week students will also head to the computer lab to work on a short research project. I will not be available for the Parents' Night scheduled on Thursday, March 8 due to a previously scheduled appointment. If you would like to meet with me outside of this night I would be more than happy to schedule an appointment. Please call GCHS at (807) 854-0130 or e-mail me so we can set something up. Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience.

...February 21, 2012... It's the End of February! Here's hoping everyone had a relaxing Family Day long weekend! It is hard to believe that we are already nearing the one month mark of the second semester, and that March Break is a mere three weeks away. Classes are progressing well and students are well into their course work. Here's an update: ENG 3C students have spent the first few weeks doing writing review work. These students will soon begin John Ball's novel, In the Heat of the Night. Information on this novel can be found in the ENG 3C section. ENG 2D students have spent time working on the Grade 10 Literacy Test (OSSLT), which will be written at the end of March. Students in this class will also be starting their first novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Many students have begun reading this novel and some will find it challenging, so it is important to keep up with work and see me if necessary for extra assistance. OLC 4O students have been working on a variety of assignments, which introduce the class to the various expectations of the course, including both reading and writing. Students will continue to develop their knowledge of the different literacy components between now and the March Break. I will not be available for the Parents' Night scheduled on Thursday, March 8 due to a previously scheduled appointment. If you would like to meet with me outside of this night I would be more than happy to schedule an appointment. Please call GCHS at (807) 854-0130 or e-mail me so we can set something up. Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience.

...February 6, 2012... Welcome to Semester Two! I'd like to welcome students, parents/guardians, and other visitors to the site. After slacking off for a few months it's my hope that this semester's complement of courses, (ENG3C, ENG2D, and OLC4O), will make use of this site more effectively. Here's wishing everyone a great first week - and a welcome to any new students to GCHS. Enjoy the best years of your life! Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...January 27, 2012... I've been behind on updates as the first semester has come to an end. Exams and final culminating tasks have been completed and final marks are being tabulated and submitted to the GCHS Principal for approval. In the first weeks of semester two, students are encouraged to see me to discuss final marks. Content for Semester Two courses, including Grade 11 English (ENG3C), Grade 10 English (ENG2D), and Grade 12 Literacy (OLC4O), will be updated very soon. Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...December 5, 2011... It's not seriously December, is it? Apparently Christmas is only three weeks away. Also, the second Progress Report is only a week away, so a friendly reminder for stuents to ensure all outstanding assignments are submitted this week. Also, check out the section for some cool updates of an artist tour at some area elementary schools. This week: ENG 2L students are still continuingAfter the First Death. The class has also spent some time doing some literacy assessments, and that information will be used so that the school can better serve student learning needs. ENG 3U students have completed reading Macbeth with much success. Culminating tasks are being wrapped up before the class turns to the next unit. ENG 4E students have made it to the halfway point of "The Rez Sisters". Progress is a little slower than anticipated due in part to some attendance issues and the Act I Culminating Assignment has taken nearly a week longer than planned but the play will continue, (and possibly be completed) this week. Here's wishing everyone a great week. Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...November 21, 2011... It's been a month since the last update and I apologize for that! It's been insanely busy with meetings, conferences, assignments and the day-to-day stuff! Mid-Term report cards should be received by students, parents, and guardians this week and if there are any questions about a student's progress, please let me know. It's also crazy to think that the semester is half-over and Christmas is edging ever closer. Here's an update on what's going on in class: This week: ENG 2L students are well into After the First Death and seem to be enjoying the suspense of the novel. We've been doing a lot of predicting, responding, and inferencing about the novel and also talking about the themes (heroism, terrorism) quite a bit, linking the novel with current events. ENG 3U students are nearing the end of "Macbeth" and are responding well to the play. Actually, students are doing a great job of figuring out the literal meaning of the play and we are working on interpreting the figuarative meaning. Students have been performing in class and will work on memorizing a section before writing a final essay and completing a unit test. The next unit will focus on their Independent Study Unit. ENG 4E students have made it to the halfway point of "The Rez Sisters". Progress is a little slower than anticipated due in part to some attendance issues and the Act I Culminating Assignment has taken nearly a week longer than planned but the play will continue, (and possibly be completed) this week. Here's wishing everyone a great week. Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...October 19, 2011... October is coming to an end. Once again, it is amazing how fast the semester is rushing by. We've already seen snow and in a few months it will be a regular occurrence. Scary stuff. Anyway, here's what's happening this week: This week: ENG 2L students will begin their novel study, After the First Death this week. This unit will include lessons on elements of a novel, as well as a study of this story. ENG 3U students have completed reading Frankenstein and will complete final tasks regarding this unit, including a Culminating Task and a Unit Test. The short horror/suspense stories from last week were phenomenal and copies should be posted soon! ENG 4E students will begin reading The Rez Sisters this week. It's been put off for too long and, despite the small class, it's time to give it a go! Here's wishing everyone a great week. Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...October 11, 2011... Here's hoping everyone had a great, relaxing and warm Thanksgiving Weekend! Progress reports are available to students/parents/guardians as of today. Please not that Mr. Wilsonwill not be availabe for Parents' Night due to an out-of-town meeting. Please email me if you are interested in making alternate meeting arrangements! This week: ENG 2L will continue working on a variety of reading and writing assignments to strengthen literacy skills. ENG 3U students will approach the end of the Frankenstein unit and develop short horror/suspense stories. Note that updates are being made to the Assignment, Lesson and Resources pages of the ENG3U section. ENG 4E students will finalize a report writing activity from last week and continue working on literacy skills for the remainder of the week. Here's wishing everyone a great week. Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...October 3, 2011... A month of school has already come and gone. It is amazing how fast time flies by when students are kept busy! Please note that Progress Reports will be available on Tuesday, October 11 for Wilson's students. Also, please note that Mr. Wilson will not be availabe for Parents' Night due to an out-of-town meeting. Please email me if you are interested in making alternate meeting arrangements! ENG 2L will begin the class novel study After the First Death. ENG 3U students will continue their study of Frankenstein with chapter analyses. Note that updates are being made to the Assignment, Lesson and Resources pages of the ENG3U section. ENG 4E students will begin the unit exploring drama, using the play The Rez Sisters. With such a small class we will see how this goes... Here's wishing everyone a great week. Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...September 19, 2011... Classes continue to work well on their first units. This week will bring some new activities and the end of the first units of the year. It's also a short week as Friday is a school board Professional Development day! ENG 2L students completed the Ontario Curriculum Assessment last week, which will allow school staff to diagnose strengths and weaknesses in reading and writing so that the course can be adjusted to meet student needs. This week, students will continue to develop writing skills by working on paragraph and detail development to ensure what they are saying is clear to the reader. ENG 3U students will continue to explore the expectations of senior academic level essays. Students will also get an advanced look at the next unit, a study of the Victorian novel Frankenstein. Resources and links will also be added to that section of the website to assist students with their studies. ENG 4E students will complete their first unit - a review of writing expectations and an exploration of workplace safety - with a small research project. Students will then go on to a unit exploring drama, using the play The Rez Sisters. Here's wishing everyone a great week. Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...September 12, 2011... A Great First Week Classes are in full swing after the first week and students seem to be settling in comfortably. Students in each class are already hard at work with the efforts of the first unit. Here's what's coming up: ENG 2L students will continue working on writing development, including a review of paragraph expectations and a study of short fiction. A number of writing activities will help to develop new skills. ENG 3U students are reviewing essay writing. This includes a focus on six essay types, and the writing of four short essays. Lessons on formatting, thesis support and persuasive techniques, among others, will follow. ENG 4E students will begin looking at a Workplace Safety unit, which will teach both safe working expectations and reinforce some basic writing skills. Here's wishing everyone a great second week. Remember, if you have any questions, you're always welcome to e-mail me!

...September 6, 2011... Welcome Back! Welcome back to GCHS! Here's hoping everyone had a relaxing and fun summer. This promises to be an exceptional year at GCHS with a revitalized school interior, administrative changes, and the return of many great students and staff. WilsonTeacher.ca will also hopefully go through a modernization over the next few weeks to become more useful and user-friendly. In the meantime, please check out the differnet sections organized for each course and feel free to e-mail me with comments or questions and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Enjoy the school year and once again, welcome back!

...January 3, 2011... Happy New Year from www.wilsonteacher.ca! Here's hoping everyone had a restful and wonderful holiday break. We're right back in the fray now with less than a month to go before exams, (which begin on January 27, if you were wondering!) Students will be working hard to complete the final unit of coursework before beginning exam reviews and final culminating tasks. ENG 3U students will complete Macbeth this week before jumping into Independent Study Unit presentations. If time permits a quick look at Beowulf will be attempted but the scheduling is tight right now. ENG 1P students will complete their poetry unit this week which will include the creation of their best work and a short unit test. Following this students will do a short media study unit which will bring the class to exam review towards the end of the month. There are no additional progress reports scheduled to be given out between now and exams so if you are interested in how a student is doing I encourage you to e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Once again, welcome back!

...December 15, 2010... 'Twas the week before Christmas Break and all through the school... Students have been working hard finishing up assignments in advance of a much-deserved Christmas Break. Please note that the second Progress Report is available as of today and, as always, parents/guardians are encouraged to get in touch with Mr. Wilson to discuss the progress of individual students. ENG 3U students are continuing their study of Macbeth and are nearing the halfway point of the play. Students are completing a number of assignments related to gaining a greater understanding of the play. Students will be working on these assingments and their ISU on Canterbury Tales over the break. ENG 1P students have worked well completing the Rumble Fish essay over the last few days and should be commended for their efforts. Students will wrap up the week with a return to poetry. Mr. Wilson and WilsonTeacher.ca wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas season and all the best in 2011. For any further information please feel free to email me at your convenience!

...December 6, 2010... First: I can't believe how cold it is outside all of the sudden. Second: There are only two weeks left until the Christmas Break, which means there is work to be done in both ENG3U and ENG1P! Third: I apologize for being away for the majority of the past week but I did get to speak with the Minister of Education about GCHS, and that was pretty cool! Anyway...this week: ENG 3U students will transition from ISU work to an introduction to Shakespeare's MacBeth. Unfortunately due to time constraints this unit will have to be split up by the break but the play is short and fairly easy to follow so hopefully students enjoy it. ENG 1P students will continue (and complete) their poetry unit in the next two weeks. Students will learn a variety of poetry styles and poetic terminology. In addition the Rumble Fish essay will be completed this week and students will be required to use the activity period to catch up on missing work. Note that the second Progress Report will be given to students next Wednesday, (December 15). For any questions or for information regarding the progress of a student please email me at your convenience. Thanks, and enjoy the week!

...November 26, 2010... It feels strange that there's only a month left until Christmas, which means that there are only three weeks left of school until the Christmas Break... time to get cracking! ENG 3U students are finalizing a short essay review unit and will be transitioning to their Independent Study Unit (ISU) on The Canterbury Tales. The work will prove challenging but hopefully students will appreciate the work. Copies of the ISU are posted on the 3U assignment page. ENG 1P students are still working on their Rumble Fish essay. The assignment is taking a bit longer than anticipated as some students are struggling with organization and ideas. However, the poetry unit will begin next week and students may be required to complete the essay outside of class to ensure that all curriculum expectations get covered! Thanks, and have a great week. For any questions or for information regarding the progress of a student please email me at your convenience.

...November 20, 2010... Well, Winter is here... maybe not officially, but a quick look out the window says otherwise. Be careful in the cold and snow, folks! ENG 3U students are halfway through their comprehensive (and compacted) Essay Writing Unit. Students have been studying a variety of essay writing techniques as well as reading a variety of essay types. Lessons and assignments have been updated and will continue to be updated frequently. ENG 1P students are getting into their first essay, which will explore the novel Rumble Fish. This will occur next week and then students will spend some time exploring different types of poetry, which will occupy the rest of the time before the Christmas Break, wh ich is only four weeks away! Time flies! Thanks, and have a great week. For any questions or for information regarding the progress of a student please email me at your convenience.

...November 9, 2010... ***IMPORTANT NOTICE*** Effective November 15, 2010 I will be taking over Ms. Treftlin's ENG3U course for the remainder of the semester and leaving the ENG3C class. Students in the ENG3C class will continue to have course materials from the first half of the semester available to them through this website while students in the ENG3U class can benefit from a new section that is now available for that course. The ENG3C midterm report card will consist of assignments and expectations covered up to this point. For information on the ENG3U midterm it is recommended that students and parents/guardians contact the school at 854-0130. I wish the students of ENG3C the best of luck. It has been great getting to know everyone and I appreciate your use of this website. For those in ENG3U I look forward to once again working with you folks. Thanks, and have a great week. For any questions or for information regarding the progress of a student please email me at your convenience.

...November 3, 2010... It's officially the start of November and in a few weeks midterm report cards will be prepared by school staff and sent home to parents and guardians. A deadline of Friday, November 5 has been set for students to catch up on outstanding assignments in the hopes that most students will have positive report cards. Students in both ENG 3C and ENG 1P continue to make progress on their respective novel studies and essay writing activities. As always, updates are made frequently to the Lessons and Assignments sections for each of these classes so check back regularily for updates! Parents, guardians and students wishing for updates on progress or information about courses are invited, as always, to e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

...October 27, 2010... Happy Halloween! It's hard to believe that we are almost into November and almost at the halfway point of the first semester. Students have been working hard , (most of the time), to complete assignments and most marks reflect this great effort. Students who are in need of extra assistance and support are reminded of the Activity Period, available every day from 12:05pm - 12:35pm. ENG 3C students are half finished In the Heat of the Night. Students will begin focusing on essays, which will be a part of the end of this unit. It is expected that the actual studying of chapters will be completed by next week. Check the lessons and assignment pages for updates! ENG 1P students are halfway through Rumble Fish and also learning about how to write essays. Lessons and assignments are being added throughout the week! Parents, guardians and students wishing for updates on progress or information about courses are invited, as always, to e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

...October 19, 2010... Parents' Night has come and gone but if you would like to discuss the progress of a student please feel free to e-mail me to set up an appointment. ENG 3C students are a few chapters into In the Heat of the Night and the novel seems to be received positively. Students will be researching some of the novel's themes in a group assignment this week. Students are reminded to visit the "Lessons" and "Assignments" section of the website for updates. ENG 1P students will continue studying Rumble Fish. In addition, students will begin learning the basics of essay writing this week with an introduction to topics like a "thesis", "supporting points" and "research". Have a great week!

...October 14, 2010... It is Parents' Night Tonight! Parents/Guardians who have not made an appointment or are unable to come are encouraged to contact me for alternate arrangements. I look forward to meeting new parents this evening and discussing student progress. ENG 3C students have begun studying In the Heat of the Night. Students are reminded to visit the "Lessons" and "Assignments" section of the website for updates. ENG 1P students have also begun their novel study unit on Rumble Fish. There are several assignments for this unit so it is important that students stay caught up and make effective use of time provided in class. Like the Grade 11 English course, copies of most assignments will be available on the website. It's hard to believe that a third of the course is already a thing of the past. Best of luck to students as they proceed towards mid-terms in November! Have a great week!

...October 7, 2010... A final reminder to students to ensure that all work from the first unit is completed by Tuesday, October 11 for inclusion on the first progress report. Also, a reminder to parents and students that this progress report will be given to students on Wednesday, October 13 with parents' night following the next evening. ENG 3C students have completed the short story unit and will begin studying the novel In the Heat of the Night after the long weekend. ENG 1P students will also begin studying a novel, Rumble Fish, by S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders. As always, anyone wishing to discuss the progress of a student or to enquire about classes are encouraged to email me. Have a great week!

...September 28, 2010... Check out the Outers Canoe Club - Fall 2010 pictures in the Gallery of Student Work! ENG 3C students will complete the Short Story Unit within the next week. Assignments will include a review quiz and a unit test as well as two more short stories from the textbook. Students are also recommended to begin reading the novel In the Heat of the Night to begin for the next unit. ENG 1P students will also be completing their Short Story Unit soon, too. Students are beginning a larger writing assignment and will also complete a review quiz in the next week. A culminating task and final unit test will wrap things up for this class prior to the start of the next unit. Thanksgiving and the first progress report are right around the corner. As always, anyone wishing to discuss the progress of a student or to enquire about classes are encouraged to email me. Have a great week!

...September 23, 2010... New lessons and some assignments have been added to both the ENG 3C and the ENG 1P sections. The first progress report is coming up quickly on October 13th. Please endeavour to keep work completed and handed in on time! Parents and guardians who wish to meet me are encouraged to e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

...September 20, 2010... The weather is getting considerably cooler and the first frost of the season has already come so make sure to dress warmly, especially since there seems to be no relief in sight for the heatless classrooms of GCHS. Students should be commended for their patience and understanding while dealing with the ongoing construction at the high school This week, classes will be working on the following: ENG 3C students continue to develop writing skills while focusing on short stories. The first larger assignment, a story modeled on Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart is now due. Students will be reading a variety of short stories this week and working on character development. ENG 1P students are also working on writing development, which includes basic paragraph structures, response journals and a transition to a short story unit. Students will complete a mix of reading and writing over the next several weeks which will be a base not only for high school English courses but for all classes in school. Parents and guardians who wish to meet me are encouraged to e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

...September 13, 2010... The first week of school has flown by incredibly fast. Classes are well underway and students seem to be organizing themselves with their work. Multiple updates have been posted in the lesson sections of each class so check back regularly to ensure your notes are up-to-date! ENG 3C students are working on reading and writing development this week as well as studying the basics of short stories. ENG 1P students are also working on basic reading and writing development and so far, everything is looking good. If you have any questions about the progress of a student please e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

...September 7, 2010... Welcome back to school! Yes, there are some changes within the building and there will undoubtedly be some disruptions...but we're back in business! Good luck to all for a great semester.

...August 30, 2010... A poll has been added on the right to track who is visiting WilsontTeacher.ca so please take a second and vote. Updates are being made to Semester 1 class pages including course outlines, calendars and assignments. Be sure to check back frequently for more updates and enjoy your last few days of summer!

...August 10, 2010... WilsonTeacher.ca hopes everyone is enjoying the fun and heat of summer. School is just around the corner and updates are currently being made to the site in preparation for September. Enjoy August while it lasts!!

...June 7, 2010... Unbelievably, this is the last full week of classes as exams start next Friday, June 18th. Therefore students are encouraged to make efforts to catch up on missing assignments by coming in during the Activity Period, (12:05pm - 12:35pm) for extra assistance. Once again, this has been a tremendous year with some great students. This week will also be busy as both Prom 2010 and the Commencement Ceremony will be held on Thursday and Friday, respectively. OLC 4O students are at about the halfway mark of their final culminating tasks. Students will have until the last day of classes to complete these five literacy-based tasks. ENG 2D students have completed Romeo & Juliet and did a great job reading and understanding the play. Students will write a unit test this week. An in-class essay will follow and that mark will be put towards the final exam. Once again, thanks to students for an excellence semester. Good luck on finishing up outstanding assignments and exam studying! As always, students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...May 31, 2010... We are winding into our last weeks of the semester and students have been working feverishly to ensure that all assignments have been submitted for their final marks. The second (and final) progress reports have been sent out and exams are in the not-so-distant future. OLC 4O students will begin their final culminating assignments this week. These five assignments each take multiple days and are presented instead of an exam. They cover the material within the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test as well as the material covered within this course. Students will have just over two weeks to complete these tasks. ENG 2D students are just at the halfway point of Romeo & Juliet. The class should be congratulated for excellent in-class reading skills. Students are learning about identifying key materials within the script as well as some dramatic terms. Completion of the script should occur next week and a test and essay assignment will follow. Please note that the second progress report will be prepared and presented to students this Friday, (May 21). As always, students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...May 18, 2010... The sun is shining and the weather looks like it's going to be beautiful out this week - or tough to sit still inside a classroom! Students are rounding out the semester and in about a month exams will be in full swing. Time flies! OLC 4O students will continue reviewing the four components of the OSSLC requirements prior to beginning the six culminating tasks at the beginning of June. ENG 2D students have completed the first act of Romeo & Juliet and will take some time to study the Elizabethan stage before continuing on with the play. Please note that the second progress report will be prepared and presented to students this Friday, (May 21). As always, students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...May 11, 2010... I apologize for the infrequent updates as of late! Things have been very busy around the school with the various groups and initiatives I am involved in and unfortunately, WilsonTeacher.ca has been victim to a crazy schedule. In the last month midterms have gone out, Grade 10 students wrote, (hopefully successfully!) the Grade 10 Literacy Test and students have been working hard on assignments as the semester starts to wind down. OLC 4O students have completed Crabbe this week and will now continue to review the four main components of Ontario's literacy requirements by completing tasks related to the novel study. ENG 2D students have completed a unit on poetry and are beginning an introduction to Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Students can take advantage of the translated texts provided in the Lessons section of the ENG 2D area. Thanks again for visiting the site and enjoy the warm weather now that it finally seems to be here to stay! Students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...April 6, 2010... WilsonTeacher.ca hopes everyone enjoyed their Easter Weekend. There are some important events coming up this week... OLC 4O students are completing assignments related to Opinion Writing and are working on related skills. A study of th novel Crabbe will begin this week, too. ENG 2D students have completed reading To Kill a Mockingbird and have also completed essays for this novel. A film study and the unit test will occur this week. More importantly, all grade 10 students will be writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) on Thursday, April 8. Students wishing to receive extra help can visit the official OSSLT Website for information and resources. Additionally, midterms will be mailed home in a matter of weeks so students are urged to see Mr. Wilson for extra help and to catch up on missing assignments. Here's hoping this nice Spring weather continues. Have a good week! Students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...March 12, 2010... WilsonTeacher.ca thanks those parents and guardians who made it to the first Parents' Night of the semester. Also, here's hoping everyone has a wonderfully restful March Break. There have been some changes in the past week, most notably that I will not be teaching Grade 9 English for the remainder of the semester as I have accepted a school Literacy Lead position that will run during that time. The class is now taught by Mrs. K. Gardiner and all further inquiries about ENG 1P should be directed to her. OLC 4O students are catching up on some outstanding assignments and will focus on paragraphs and opinion writing following the March Break. ENG 2D students have finished the first half of To Kill a Mockingbird and will begin working on a literary essay over the March Break. To assist students with the upcoming Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, (OSSLT) on April 8, I recommend students, parents and guardians visit EQAO's Resource Page, the government agency responsible for the test, for some practice materials and related information. Students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...March 2, 2010... It is hard to believe that it is already March. This semester will be over before we know it! The first progress report will also be given in the next week, outlining a mark, missing assignments and a general comment about student progress. Parents/guardians are welcome to e-mail me to book a time for interviews, which are held on Wednesday, March 10. This week, students in OLC 4O will continue working on News Reports. In addition, students will continue working on general literacy skills. ENG 1P students are working on a culminating task for their short story unit. They will be creating their own Fairy Tale Story and reviewing the elements of stories. ENG 2D students are diving into To Kill a Mockingbird. Lessons and assignments are being added on a regular basis to the ENG 2D Webpage. WilsonTeacher.ca also congratulates students from this class who have been selected to participate in Encounters With Canada. Students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...February 22, 2010... Classes are going very well this semester and the first progress report is fast approaching. OLC 4O students will be spending time working on News Report expectations and assignments this week. ENG 1P students are continuing their work with the Short Story unit. Students will be doing more writing this week as they develop descriptive writing skills and work towards the end of the unit. A quiz is also scheduled. ENG 2D students are completing their Short Story unit and will be starting the To Kill a Mockingbird novel study. Lessons for this unit can be found in the ENG 2D - Lessons section of the website. Students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...February 9, 2010... WilsonTeacher.ca apologizes for the lack of updates in the last few days. The new semester has been quite busy and WilsonTeacher.ca Headquarters also welcomed the addition of a puppy named Layla, which has effectively absorbed website updating time. However, here's a quick update as to what's going on in class: OLC 4O students have spent time reviewing paragraph and general writing expectations. This will continue through the week as students also spend some time developing their research skills in the library. ENG 1P students have begun a short story unit and seem to be enjoying titles like On the Sidewalk, Bleeding and Charles. Students will soon be working on descriptive and narrative writing. ENG 2D students also spent the first week reviewing writing skills and expectations. Students are also spending time reviewing elements of the Ontario Secondary Schools Literacy Test. This week, students will begin a Short Story unit as well. Students, parents or guardians who have questions about classes or the progress of a student are welcomed to contact Mr. Wilson by clicking here.

...January 25, 2010... WilsonTeacher.ca thanks students for a great first semester. Good luck to everyone with exams and your new classes! Welcome to new students in OLC 4O, ENG 1P and ENG 2D who will hopefully be using WilsonTeacher.ca as a resource throughout the semester. Students and guardians who have questions about progress, course information, lessons or assignments are encouraged to contact Mr. Wilson by sending an email at any time.

...January 4, 2010... WilsonTeacher.ca wishes everyone a happy new year! Things will be very busy in the classroom for the next few weeks as this semester winds down. Exams are only three weeks away! ENG 2P students will be working on Grade 10 Literacy Test skills as well as media literacy this week. ENG 4C students will also work on media literacy skills for the next two weeks in addition to their Independent Study Unit. AVI 1O students will take a look at Canadian Art while working on art criticism skills. Their final project will be assigned next week. Anyone with questions about the progress of a student are welcome to contact me at any time.

...December 14, 2009, 2009... 'Twas the last week before Christmas Break and all through the class.... Students received Progress Reports this past Friday. If you are interested in the progress of a student and have not seen a report please contact me and I will provide an update. WilsonTeacher.ca now features a Gallery of Student Work: Please note that the gallery software is still being tweaked. Hopefully student work will be added frequently! Keep visiting to find out!

...December 9, 2009, 2009... It's hard to believe how fast time is passing. Updates have been slow on the site lately due to time being spent at meetings, professional development and planning daily lessons. THe second Progress Report will be handed out to students on Friday, December 11th. Following this is the final week before Christmas Break! ENG 2P students have completed their short story unit. Students wrote short stories and illustrated significant plot events. Hopefully a gallery of student work will be set up on the site soon. Currently, this class is working on Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test preparation for Spring 2010. ENG 4C students are in the midst of a business communication unit, which is specifically geared to the first year requirements of many college programs. Topics covered include report writing, business messages, writing styles and research. This unit will continue until the new year. AVI 1O students have completed many excellent Egyptian cartouches. Again, hopefully a gallery of work will be available soon. Students also created Egyptian profile paintings and are now working on some review. The next topic, (perhaps starting next week) will be a brief look at Greek art. Anyone with questions about the progress of a student are welcome to contact me at any time.

...November 16, 2009, 2009... Midterm marks should be sent out this week. ENG 2P students have begun a short story unit which includes a combination of reading and writing development. A focus in the next few weeks will also be on literacy skills in preparation for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test next semester. ENG 4C students will work on a final project consisting of four assignments for Fahrenheit 451. Students will also be completing a unit test on Tuesday and watching the film version of the novel. AVI 1O students have finished painting personal Coats-of-Arms and are now working with clay developing Egyptian cartouches. Students will return to painting this week on another assignment. Anyone with questions about the progress of a student are welcome to contact me at any time.

...November 9, 2009, 2009... Midterm marks have been finalized and will be sent out after verification from the office so students and parents can expect to see them within two weeks. ENG 2P students are beginning a new unit, Short Stories, this week. Students are reminded of their Lord of the Flies essay rough copies, which are due next Monday. ENG 4C students will complete Fahrenheit 451 this week and will then complete a unit test, watch the film and write a short comparative essay discussing the differences between the novel and the film. In addition, the unit on Business English will continue to be developed. AVI 1O students are completing personal Coats-of-Arms this week, (and they are awesome, too!). Once these are completed students will spend some time exploring Egyptian art. Anyone with questions about the progress of a student are welcome to contact me at any time.

...November 4, 2009, 2009... The push is on to have students complete outstanding assignments before Friday, November 6 for inclusion on the Midterm Report cards, which will be sent out shortly thereafter. Therefore it is important that students get caught up on any missing work. Note that most assignments are available on the Assignments section of the website. Anyone with questions about the progress of a student are welcome to contact me at any time.

...October 27, 2009, 2009... It's been awhile since an update but that's because everyone has been so busy. In less than two weeks midterm reports will be sent home so students need to get caught up with outstanding assignments! ENG 2P students have completed reading Lord of the Flies. They will now focus on a compare/contrast essay assignment. ENG 4C students are almost done reading Fahrenheit 451 and are also beginning a Business English unit that is scheduled to last about four-five weeks. AVI 1O students have finished all introductory assignments on the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design. Students are beginning a Prehistoric and Egyptian Art unit that should be challenging and fun for most students. Lessons and assignments continue to be updated on a regular basis so parents, guardians and students are encouraged to check the site out frequently. Anyone with questions about the progress of a student are welcome to contact me at any time.

...October 5, 2009, 2009... Here's hoping everyone has a great week! The first progress report, which identifies all assignments missing and completed, an initial mark as well as learning skills will be sent home with students on Tuesday, October 6. The first Parents' Night takes place the following evening from 7pm - 9pm. If parents/guardians want to discuss the progress of a student outside of this time, appointments can be made to meet Mr. Wilson by contacting the school or emailing me..

...September 28, 2009, 2009... It's hard to believe that September ends this week. The weather forecast is starting to look cooler and cooler... This week: ENG 2P students will continue reading Lord of the Flies while learning about the development of characters, setting and plot. ENG 4C students are reading Fahrenheit 451 and though the novel is difficult, most students seem to be appreciating the novel's message. Students are learning about allegory, theme and plot through this novel. AVI 1O students are finishing up Art Folders and the unit on Elements of Art will come to a close, followed by a project and test. Enjoy the week!

...September 15, 2009, 2009... Note that lessons and assignments are updated throughout the week for each class. Check out the various sections of each course to stay updated!

...September 14, 2009, 2009... Updates this Week... Classes continue to work well on lessons and assignments. Thanks to all students for your hard work so far. This week: ENG 2P students will turn rough persuasive arguments into polished essays. ENG 4C students will also develop final copies of their persuasive essays. AVI 1O students will take a look at colour, value and texture this week as the introduction to art continues. Enjoy your week!

...September 8, 2009, 2009... One week down! This week, students will be focusing on the following: ENG 2P students will begin developing persuasive writing techniques and will begin a writing assignment. ENG 4C students will also be working on a Persuasive Writing Assignment. AVI 1O students will continue focusing on the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design. Have a great week, everyone!

...August 14, 2009, 2009... A new school year is coming! Welcome to new and returning students! WilsonTeacher.ca is currently undergoing some maintenance and revisions to update content for the 2009-2010 school year. Only two weeks of summer left... time to get the ball rolling!

...June 8, 2009, 2009... It is hard to believe that this is the last full week of school! Congratulations to the Class of 2009! OLC 4O students are completing their five final assignments, covering the Ontario Literacy requirements. These are in-place of an exam. ENG 1P students have completed Rumble Fish and are working on final assignments this week. On Wednesday and Thursday students will be writing an in-class essay that is part of their final mark. ENG 2D students are completing final assignments for Romeo & Juliet and will be writing in-class essays on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week as part of their final mark. Students requiring additional assistance with assignments prior to the exam are invited to come into the classroom daily during the Activity Period for help. Have a great week!

...May 25, 2009... The final Progress Reports were sent out this past Friday, May 22. OLC 4O students: You will begin your final six summative assignments this week. Remember - there is no exam for this class but completing these assignments is a requirement of the course! ENG 1P students will complete Rumble Fish this week and begin a short essay assignment that will double as a final summative writing assignment. Copies of the essay notes should be added to the website soon for your review. ENG 2D students have completed half of Romeo & Juliet and the work that is done in terms of getting through the play is appreciated. Two periods this week are lost due to events occurring during Period 4. Visit the calendar for information. Parents and guardians are invited to the school at any time to check out the classroom, assignments, the new SmartBoard or for an update on a student's progress.

...May 14, 2009... It's been awhile since the last update... my apologies! Some announcements to be made, though: The second Progress Report will be prepared and sent home next week. As always, if there are any questions about the progress of a student, please let me know! OLC 4O students are almost finished reading the novel Crabbe. Following this will be their final assessment, which is in place of an exam and involves a demonstration of literacy skills. ENG 1P students are halfway through the novel Rumble Fish. So far, students seem to be enjoying the novel. You can keep up with assignments by visiting the ENG 1P Assignments page. ENG 2D students have completed the first Act of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet.

...April 24, 2009... Mid-Term report cards have been sent home this week. OLC 4O students have begun reading the novel Crabbe, about a young man who decides to run away from home to 'get away from it all'. This should take a few weeks and will build student's reading and writing skills. ENG 1P students have completed their poetry books, (or almost completed them...) So far they look great! Students were commended for working so well in the library and in class. A study of the novel Rumble Fish will follow. ENG 2D students were hard at work completing very creative short stories in the style of Edgar Allen Poe. Soon they will be reading Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet It is hard to believe that there are only two months of school left. Keep up all the great work, students!

...April 15, 2009... Spring is finally in the air! Mid-Term report cards will be sent home in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the marks or progress of a student please contact me for more information. Only a few more months and it will be summer!! OLC 4O students continue to demonstrate improved literacy skills in various areas of work. ENG 1P students are showing great skill in many areas of poetry. Some examples will hopefully be featured soon! ENG 2D students are currently working on a short story unit, which will be followed by Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Thanks for visiting the site!

...March 12, 2009... Progress Reports are out Tuesday, March 10. Parents' Night is held tonight from 7pm - 9pm but I will be absent! Should you wish to contact me regarding the progress of a student, please send me an email or call the school. ENG 1P students are reminded of their unit test, scheduled for Friday, March 13 . ENG 2D students can access lessons and assignments from To Kill a Mockingbird up to Chapter 19 by visiting the appropriate web site. Enjoy your March Break!!

...March 9, 2009... Progress Reports are out Tuesday, March 10. Parents' Night is held on thursday, March 12 from 7pm - 9pm but I will be absent! Should you wish to contact me regarding the progress of a student, please send me an email or call the school. ENG 1P students are reminded of their unit test, scheduled for Friday, March 13 .

...March 3, 2009... The first Progress Reports will be provided to students on Tuesday, March 10. Please contact me if you have any questions about assignments, marks or the progress of a student! Parents' Night is scheduled for Thursday, March 12 from 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. Please note that I am unable to attend parents night. However, I am more than willing to meet at a different time if necessary. I apologise for any inconvenience. OLC 4O students continue to practice News Report writing skills this week. ENG 1P students are workingon the rough copies of their final assignments. ENG 2D students have completed the first half of To Kill a Mockingbird and will continue their novel study. March Break is right around the corner!!

...February 23, 2009... OLC 4O students will continue developing writing skills this week. Summary Writing will give way to News Reports. ENG 1P students will continue their Short Story Unit and the final project will be introduced this week. The Unit Test is right around the corner! ENG 2D students will begin their study of To Kill A Mockingbird. Lessons and assignments will be frequently added to the appropriate sections of the website. Have a great week! March Break, (and the first Progress Reports) are coming right up, too!

...February 17, 2009... ENG2D students can access a sample MLA-formatted essay by visiting the LESSONS page of the ENG 2D section of WilsonTeacher.ca In addition, students and parents/guardians will also find a schedule for the To Kill a Mockingbird unit on the LESSONS page. It can also be viewed here.

...February 16, 2009... ENG2D students are reminded that their Persuasive Essays are due on Friday. Also, To Kill A Mockingbird should be completed by Monday, February 23. A schedule for the upcoming novel study unit will be posted soon. ENG1P students are expected to have their Priscilla and the Wimps rough copy writing assignment completed. Final copies will be due at the end of the week. OLC4O students will continue working on summary writing this week.

...February 9, 2009... Semester Two is on a roll! Thanks to all classes for such a positive and productive start! OLC4O students will be in the computer lab this week mastering summary writing. ENG1P students will be working on descriptive writing and short stories. ENG2D students will be developing persuasive essays and continuing their reading of To Kill A Mockingbird. WilsonTeacher.ca wishes everyone a great week!

...February 3, 2009... ENG 2D Students: Click here for the To Kill A Mockingbird PowerPoint Introduction. Note that this file requires Microsoft PowerPoint. A free reader is available here. Note that this and other lessons will be available on the NEW LESSONS section of the ENG 2D: Grade 10 English website.

...February 2, 2009... Semester Two Begins! WilsonTeacher.ca Welcomes New Students! Best of luck with new courses this semester. Students are encouraged to make use of the resources and assignments provided for each class, which can be found on the left menu. Students who require assistance with lessons and assignments are encouraged to come in to Room 28 during Activity Period, (12:05pm - 12:35pm) or contact me for help.

...January 20, 2009... Exam review sheets have been prepared and posted for the following courses. Click to download them! GLS 1O - Grade 9 Learning Strategies ENG 1P - Grade 9 English NBE 3E - Grade 11 Aboriginal Studies Once again, good luck with exams!

...January 19, 2009... This is the last week of classes for the first semester. Students should verify that they have the correct textbooks for their courses before returning them to the library. The exam schedule can be found on the calendar section of each course. If students have questions regarding exams they should talk to Mr. Wilson as soon as possible. Finally, classes and related web sites for Mr. Wilson's Semester Two courses have been added to the site. WilsonTeacher.ca welcomes all new students and hopes they find this website useful. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to contact me. Good luck to everyone on their Semester one final exams!

...January 12, 2009... Exams are right around the corner! If you have any questions about course material, exams, missing work or marks now is a good time to contact me! Good luck during the last nine days of class and good luck on those exams, too.

...January 5, 2009... Welcome back to class! There is less than three weeks left until the beginning of exams so it is extremely important that students get caught up in their classes. This may mean coming in at lunch, asking for extra copies of work or speaking with me. Enjoy the last few weeks of class before exams begin!!

...December 19, 2008... It's officially Christmas Break! Therefore, there will be no updates to WilsonTeacher.ca until after the holiday break. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up on missing work if you have any! WilsonTeacher.ca wishes everyone a safe and happy Christmas season. See you in January 2009!!

...December 14, 2008... The second Progress Report has gone out. If you have any questions about it, please let me know. This is the final week of classes before the Christmas Break. If you know you owe me a lot of work, the next few weeks would be a perfect time to catch up. Check out the assignments for your class for lost or missing copies of work. Finally, I decided to test a Guestbook for everyone to leave their comments.

...December 9, 2008... WilsonTeacher.ca is currently playing with changes to the site design. Please comment if you see something you like or do not like - your comments would be useful!

...December 8, 2008... Reminder: Outstanding work is due Wednesday, December 10 for Friday's Progress Report #2! Mr. Wilson's Period 1 GLS 1O Class: The Food Drive is on so bring in some non-perishable foods! Aboriginal students may be interested in the Our Story: The Canadian Aboriginal Writing Challenge. You could win great prizes! Two weeks left until the Christmas break, folks.

...December 1, 2008... It's December already!? Wow. I just wanted to thank students for their excellent work this past week on the previously-mentioned projects. The Healthy Menu assignments turned out good, (props to Brad Brousseau for his scale model); the Poetry Books are great and the Seven Teachings assignments are insightful. Way to go! The second Progress Reports are coming up, (next week!) so it's important to get caught up with any other outstanding work. A special thanks to Mrs. Simonaitis and Mrs. Coffey for their help in preparing the great Learning Strategies breakfast. You guys rock!

...November 24, 2008... Wow... Less than a month until Christmas Break! Mr. Wilson is away Monday afternoon and all of Tuesday. The GLS1O class is reminded of Wednesday's Breakfast Plan.

...November 20, 2008... Winter is here! Classes are currently working on end-of-unit assignments. If you don't have a copy of these assignments check out the course page. GLS1O students are currently working on a Healthy Menu Assignment ENG1P students are developing Poetry Books and NBE3E students are researching the Seven Teachings. Also, be sure to check out updates at the G.C.H.S. Website.

...November 13, 2008... Classes are now over halfway done! Midterm report cards are to be sent out next week. Updates to the site include more assignments so if you need catch up, take a look in the Assignments section for your class.

...October 15, 2008... The semester is almost half over! Many thanks to the students who have worked hard to stay caught up in class. Parents: Wondering about your child's progress? Contact me for an appointment.

...October 2, 2008... Please note that Mr. Wilson will be out of class from Monday, October 6 to Wednesday October 8. Parents! Parent-Teacher Interviews are now being scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, October 15. E-Mail me to schedule an appointment!

...September 29, 2008... The first Progress Report, (which provides parents, guardians and you with a glimpse of how you're doing in class) is out next week, Thursday October 9. Please ensure that you have any missing work completed by Friday, October 3. Also, check out the Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism that's been prepared for this site!

...September 22, 2008... New assignments keep getting added so if you're behind in a class you can quickly catch up here. Don't forget that Friday is a P.D. Day!

...September 19, 2008... Students in ENG 1P and NBE 3E are reminded to bring in their $10.00 for the Magnus Theatre trip to see The Rez Sisters on October 29th. Please get this in ASAP!

...September 8, 2008... Well, we're a week into the 2008-2009 School Year! Check out the assignments section of each course for updates if you're missing work!

...August 27, 2008... Visit the WilsonTeacher.ca Online Forums! Users must read through the rules and be approved by WilsonTeacher.ca before using the forums.

...August 25, 2008... Launch of the website. I have been wanting to create a resource for my classes for some time so that I can help students become more organized and so I can avoid hearing "I lost my copy of assignment x"... Hopefully you're here to make use of the site. Please email me if you can think of ways to make WilsonTeacher.ca better!

Welcome back returning students and welcome new students. Hopefully by the end of the semester you won't completely hate me for making you think and learn!

     

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